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All Forum Posts by: Zachary Ballou

Zachary Ballou has started 3 posts and replied 8 times.

Post: Good Deal or Bad Deal?

Zachary BallouPosted
  • Providence, RI
  • Posts 8
  • Votes 0
Originally posted by @Brandon Ingegneri:

I'll give you my 2 cents for what they are worth. You weren't specific as to the neighborhood that the house was in. From piecing together what you said, it sounds like it's somewhere to the east of Federal Hill off of Atwells. If this is the case, your bordering on a few different neighborhoods which all carry varying unique factors to contend with. Did you get a good deal or no? Not sure. Definitely would need to know specific area. Some are more manageable, others are complete war zones.

If it's one of those areas and your only cash flowing $500 a month, I'd say don't do it. Those areas, you'll have vacancies, court costs, and unreliable tenants at times. Very high crime neighborhoods. If your over estimating costs, and will in fact cash flow better.... Different story.

Be sure to take into account homestead exemptions on taxes if owner occupied. Tl

What exactly is homestead exemptions on taxes?   I am going to live there so it will be owner occupied

Post: Good Deal or Bad Deal?

Zachary BallouPosted
  • Providence, RI
  • Posts 8
  • Votes 0
Originally posted by @Colleen F.:

Does it have lead compliance certificates?  If not are the windows vinyl or wood?

Other then that just make sure your utilities are separated and you have legal units that comply with egress for fire.  Will they have parking if you eliminate the lot?  I would see that as a downside in providence but I don't know your area.

He is looking into the led compliance certificates , but told me he doesn't think it has any.

The utilities are all separate including the house itself. If I was to eliminate the parking (not saying that I definitely would) they would have to use the on street parking available

Post: Good Deal or Bad Deal?

Zachary BallouPosted
  • Providence, RI
  • Posts 8
  • Votes 0
Originally posted by @Kyle Kingma:

Why's the lot unbuildable?

Apparently he said due to the size of the lot. It is not large enough

Post: Good Deal or Bad Deal?

Zachary BallouPosted
  • Providence, RI
  • Posts 8
  • Votes 0

Looking at my first multifamily home in the capital of my state Providence, RI. Less than a 5 minute drive from down town Providence. Built in 1922 property brings in about 2650 a month in rent and money from coin operated washer and dryers. All 3 units are currently rented. Has a new roof as of last week. Siding is half vinyl half wood. Some of the wooden spots would need to be repaired by seller for it to be approved for FHA loan. Has a retaining wall near parking that eventually going to need to be replaced Im estimating about $3500. Fire needs to be updated between units inside of house which I am going to try to get the seller to install as part of deal , but will probably cost about $3500 at the most. Has a garage that is in decent, but not excellent condition and the property has off street parking. No work needed inside except minor things such as a closet door or two. The area I would rate as being around a C+ area, but not to far down the road it gets worse, but going the other way it brings you right onto historic Federal Hill of Providence. Has a empty lot that is attached to the property that has been deemed unbuildable. However I was told by my real estate agent if I asked for a variance from the city and removed the off street parking of the property including the retaining wall the city might approve the variance. Meaning I could sell the empty lot for approximately $15-20,000. And that only would be if overnight parking is allowed in that area because I would have to get rid of the parking lot. The city is currently opening up more areas for overnight parking. If that was not the case then it would just act more as a backyard. Wiring and plumbing seems well maintained and properly installed (as of now). The asking price is at 179,000. Im hoping to start my offer at 165,000. Being priced at 179,000 the Cap rate is around 10.7 percent. My return on investment would be very high due to the fact i qualify for a grant given by the state of RI where i am not going to have to pay the down payment on the house. Rhode Island housing authority will pay it and I do not have to pay them back. Monthly income would be around 2650 and expenses minor and major would be about 2,000 a month. ( I largely overestimated expenses in this case due to the fact that I will put money aside every month for when something major occurs ) Leaving me with at the minimum around $500 dollars cash flow. I know its tough to give a definitive answer just from what I typed here , but good deal or bad deal. I love honesty so if it doesn't sound good let me know.

Post: 2% Rule and 50% Rule

Zachary BallouPosted
  • Providence, RI
  • Posts 8
  • Votes 0

Thank you all for you input!! I really appreciate it

Post: 2% Rule and 50% Rule

Zachary BallouPosted
  • Providence, RI
  • Posts 8
  • Votes 0

Due to the fact I am only 21 and have just actually started the process of looking for a 3 family home I am having a hard time getting started. I am finding "nice properties' and by nice I mean they look nice. And then I am finding properties that don't look so nice. From watching and listening to the podcasts they always talk about the "deal" and not always about how nice the property.  Finding a good deal that Is going to make you money is the key to being successful in this business according to many. They say using guidelines such as the 2% rule and 50% rule will help you filter through all the listings to find houses that you can look into further to see if they are actually  worth the time to go take a look at and maybe put an offer down. However since I have started I have not found ONE house that fits the rules. Is that because of my area, or are these rules of thumb something that just happen in a perfect world.

Post: Acquiring a loan

Zachary BallouPosted
  • Providence, RI
  • Posts 8
  • Votes 0

thanks guys for your advice definitely helped me out. I will look into FHA loan.

Thanks again !

Post: Acquiring a loan

Zachary BallouPosted
  • Providence, RI
  • Posts 8
  • Votes 0

Names Zach I am 21 and new to real estate. I currently am in the research process , but would like to attempt to purchase my first multifamily home within the next 6-8 months. I don't even know if I a bank is going to give me a loan. How do I go about finding out to just have a general idea of what they would be willing to loan me.